It’s been almost a year since I’ve last blogged, but not because of inactivity — quite the contrary. As a quick recap, I directed the second season of In Full Color, which was a phenomenal hit, and concentrated on acting for most of this year. I scored a few film gigs and also acted in plays for the Midtown International Theater Festival and my first Fringe NYC! Now, I’m concentrating on event and theatrical production.

Here’s a quick glimpse at some of the many amazing projects I’m working on this winter!

Events at LITM: Love Is The Message

I am thrilled to announce that I am the new event coordinator at LITM, a restaurant, bar and art gallery located at 140 Newark Ave., Jersey City, NJ. My first big project for them will be The Haunted Garden: Halloween Weekend at LITM, featuring a Mad Wonderland Tea Party, Iconic Masquerade Lip Sync, Rocky Horror Trivia and Screening and Halloween Karaoke and Costume Party. Events run from Friday, Oct. 28 through Monday, Oct. 31. You can find more details here.

I will also be organizing LITM’s 13th anniversary party on Saturday, Nov. 19, a David Bowie Birthday Bash on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, and more fun events!

Two Christmas Shows!

I am directing two one-person shows this holiday season to raise money for two very worth organizations.

First up is Twelve Dates of Christmas by Ginna Hoben starring Rachel Handler! After seeing her fiance kiss another woman at the televised Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mary’s life falls apart — just in time for the holidays. Over the next year, she stumbles back into the dating world, where “romance” ranges from weird and creepy to absurd and comical.

“Twelve Dates of Christmas” is a one-night-only event on Friday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. at Art House Productions, 136 Magnolia Ave., Jersey City, N.J. Come at 6:30 p.m. for a holiday artisan market featuring Taproot Organics, Generation Punk Jewelry and Evening Star Studios, complimentary warm drinks and live music by Blitzen, Dancer and Vixen from The Eight Reindeer Monologues (see below!). Show benefits AHP’s Access Committee, which helps people living with disabilities. More info and tix here.

Next is “The Eight Reindeer Monologues” by Jeff Goode starring Anthony Wills Jr.! Helpless female or lying Vixen? You’ve heard the allegations she’s made, the rumors about jolly old St. Nick and poor little deformed Rudolph who’s now in an institution. Well now hear the real story from the reindeer themselves…. This hilarious comedy dark where the reindeer speak out about Vixen’s allegations that Santa made more than inappropriate advances at her will be presented as an immersive holiday party this December!

“The Eight Reindeer Monologues” will be on Friday, Dec. 16 at 8:30 p.m. at Transmission, 150 Bay St., Jersey City, N.J. There will be live musical performances and holiday refreshments served. Also look out for appearances by the reindeer at various events around Hudson County this fall! Proceeds will benefit the Hudson County Rape Crisis Center. More info here.

More Big Things This December

I will also be producing two more major events in Jersey City this winter. First up is TEDxJerseyCity’s annual main conference, which I am production managing, on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre, 54 Journal Square, Jersey City, N.J. The theme this year? — Go!

See 12 speakers share their visions; watch live performances by some of the region’s top musical, dance and theatrical artists; check out products on the forefront of developing technologies and enjoy fun interactive events! For more information, visit the TEDxJerseyCity website.

I will also be working on an International Children’s Festival for Surati for Performing Arts on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Atrium at Harborside Financial Center, Harborside 3, Jersey City. The event will be a celebration of cultures from around the world and will feature a children’s open mic, a multi-ethnic fashion show, family-friendly entertainment, vendors and more! More information TBA.

In Full Color Lights Up Stages Around New Jersey

I am very proud to see Thinking In Full Color (TIFC), the educational outreach branch of our program, take off this year. This year we’ve had a book event at WORD Jersey City, where our anthology is currently on sale (also online here), led a class at Rutgers University-Newark and performed at the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour Kickoff and the Asian-American Writers Workshop pop-up as part of the Open Doors Citywide Arts Festival in Newark. Lastly, one of my new monologues for the series premiered as part of MOJOAA Performing Arts’ RECLAMATION event in Raleigh, N.C., in August.

Next up are two TIFC performances at New Jersey City University in Jersey City, N.J.! On Monday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m., see myself, Summer Dawn Hortillosa, as well as alumnae Samille Ganges and Alicia Rivas perform monologues and lead a post-show discussion about race, culture and identity. Click on dates to register. Admission is FREE but you must register online to enter!

Lastly, we are gearing up to produce the third annual season of In Full Color. Submissions will open Dec. 1 and close Dec. 31. The show is slated for Feb. 23 through 26. Get your monologue ideas cooking!

If you would like to book writer-actresses from In Full Color for your educational, artistic or community event, please contact me directly at summerhortillosa at gmail punto com.

I’m super excited to announce that Art House Productions is seeking monologues and art for the second annual “In Full Color,” celebrating Women’s History Month in March.

The hit show is coming back with more women sharing anecdotes and monologues about love, loss, family, food, work, culture, education and more. Last year, 13 women spoke about everything from being mistaken for a terrorist to dating while Asian. Give the world a glimpse of life in your skin!

“In Full Color” aims to create artistic opportunities for WOC, to help them share their unique stories and lastly, to encourage cross-cultural and racial tolerance. The production is open to women writers of Black, Hispanic or Asian descent, of a mixed-race background or belonging to any other ethnic minority group.

Selected writers will work with director Summer Dawn Hortillosa and perform their pieces at Art House Productions, 136 Magnolia Ave., behind the Journal Square PATH Station in Jersey City, N.J. Non-performing writers may also be paired with an actress of similar background. Submissions should be five minutes max and have minimal set/tech requirements. Limited prop storage is available. Non-union, non-pay.

All submissions should be sent to summerhortillosa at gmail.com. The timeline for the project is as follows:

Artists! We’re also seeking submissions for the promo image for “In Full Color,” which will appear on our posters, postcards and promotional banner outside Art House. Keeping in step with the rest of the production, we’d like to feature work by a female artist of color. Check out last year’s fantastic image by Ruani Ribe above! Artists and designers should send JPGs of an image they feel represents the WOC experience by Sunday, Jan. 31 to summerhortillosa at gmail.com.

After nearly five years of covering Hudson County arts and news, I am sad to say I will no longer be working for The Jersey Journal.

On Sept. 4, the Journal laid off myself and several others. I’ve enjoyed my time working for the JJ, which kickstarted my journalism career and introduced me to many fantastic people.

I am mostly heartbroken that I will be unable to continue covering my beloved burgeoning arts scene. It is the rich, diverse and ambitious culture of this county that makes it special. And I believe it is this culture that will carry us into a new era of prosperity.

I can see Jersey City and Hudson County as premier destinations holding their own besides big sis New York. I see music venues, I see the arrival of serious art collectors and captive audiences, I see movement outward into our poorer neighborhoods that I hope will be their salvation, when enough people on the block finally lobby for grocery stores, for better schools and for better lives.

And I see myself being part of this Renaissance. I am going to focus more on my work as an arts event producer and theater artist. I want to be more directly involved in the wonderful things growing here and I can’t wait to make it happen with you all. Thank you for reading my work, for sharing my work and doing your own part in making Hudson County a great place to live.

I’m thrilled to announce that my hit dramatic play, “Three Bites,” is making its New York City debut in July for Manhattan Repertory Theatre’s 10th Anniversary event!

Get ready for a second helping of “Three Bites,” which opened to rave reviews at the Tachair One-Act Play Festival and STAGEfest at the Loew’s in Jersey City in February and March 2014, respectively. The show follows the rise and fall of a relationship over the course of three meals. With each bite, Drew and Adrienne struggle to get to know each other, and themselves.

With Vaughn Pole stepping into the role of Drew and myself reprising my role as Adrienne, we’re working on creating a new dynamic between these intense, unpredictable characters. The power struggle between these two characters is still as riveting, sexy and chilling as it was when “Three Bites” premiered. And while the romance and high-tension is so exciting to watch, the show also raises awareness about the dark reality of controlling partners and toxic relationships – and how it can often be impossible to get out of them.

Join us on Saturday, July 11 at 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 12 at 7 p.m. at the theater, 303 W. 42nd St. (at Eighth Avenue), New York City, sixth floor. Tickets are $20. Reservations highly recommended, reserve by emailing MRTreserve@gmail.com. For more information, click here.